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Having your blood pressure (BP) taken is easy. Here are several tips to get ready for your appointment.

o  Be certain to take your blood pressure medicines on the day of your appointment, unless you’re in particular told not to by your provider.

o  Avoid drinking coffee or caffeinated beverages for at least 30 minutes before your appointment.

o  Do not smoke for at least 30 minutes before your appointment.

o  Avoid vigorous activity for at least 30 minutes before your appointment.

o  Wear short sleeves.

o  Go to the bathroom and empty your bladder before your blood pressure (BP) is taken.

o  Sit and relax with your feet on the floor and with your back supported for at least 5 minutes before your blood pressure is taken.

o  Sit and relax with your feet on the floor and with your back supported for at least 5 minutes before your blood pressure is taken.

o  Do not talk while your blood pressure (BP) is being taken.

o  When you take your blood pressure at home, keep a log and write it down. Be certain to take your blood pressure log to your appointment. When you do not have a log, ask your primary care team for one.

o  Bring your home blood pressure machine with you to your appointment. Have your team nurse/provider make certain that you are using it correctly.

o  Ask your nurse or provider what your blood pressure numbers are.

o  Ask your nurse or provider what your blood pressure (BP) goal is.

Stress is our body’s reaction to an event or change.  To some degree it is part of our every day life. Each day we experience it in some way – when we deal with traffic, cannot find something, sleep past the alarm, company arrives unexpectedly… Even positive changes in our lives can result in stress – moving, getting married, beginning a new job…

Every individuals has different levels of stress in their lives. What’s stressful for one individuals may not be stressful for another. Every individuals reacts to stress differently.

In small doses, stress may be beneficial. It gives you a boost of energy. It makes you more alert. It keeps you focused.

As the level of stress increases or if it persists, it could be a problem. Stress can affect our physical and mental functioning. It becomes harder for us to handle. We might become less able to cope with it in a positive way.

How does stress make you feel?

Initially, your heart beats faster and you’ll breathe faster. You’re preparing to meet the challenge. Over the longer term, you might feel mad or helpless. You can also have a headache, aches in you neck, jaw or back, have difficulty sleeping and have problems with weight gain or weight loss.

It’s important to handle stress in a positive and healthy way. When you are able to remove yourself from the stress – do it. When that isn’t possible, develop a plan to help you manage the stress.

Pre-Diabetes is becoming more common in the U.S..  As many as 50 million individuals  have pre-diabetes.

In pre-diabetes, your blood sugar levels not in the normal range.  They’re higher than normal, but not as high as with diabetes.

What does this mean?

When you’ve pre-diabetes, you are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.  You’re at risk for developing heart illness.  You’re at risk for stroke.  Many people  go on to develop Type 2 diabetes within 10 years.

Diabetes can cause  damage in nearly every part of your body.  It can lead to blindness, damage to your heart and blood vessels, kidney problems, stroke and nerve damage.  For women, diabetes can complicate pregnancy.  

What can you do?

There are a few things you can do.  

o  Manage your blood sugars.  

o  Lose a little weight – 5-7 percent of your current body weight.  This could be done with moderate diet changes and physical activity. This can help to delay and even prevent the development of kind 2 diabetes.

High blood sugar levels can cause  teeth and gum problems. If you are older than 45, have diabetes and smoke, you are at increased risk for developing gum illness. Gum illness also known as periodontal illness, can lead to mouth pain, difficulty chewing and even tooth loss. Gum illness can even make your blood sugars harder to control.

What you can do –  

•  Manage your diabetes. Be certain to keep your blood sugar level in a good range.

o  Be sure to take your diabetes medicines as directed.

o  Follow your diabetes consuming plan.

o  Be physically active at least 30 minutes a day, for most days of the week.

•  Brush after meals and snacks. Be certain to use a soft toothbrush.

•  Floss your teeth at least daily.

•  Tell your dentist when you’ve diabetes.

o  Have your teeth checked and cleaned on a regular basis.

o  If you’ve dentures, keep them clean.

o  Tell your dentist if your dentures do not fit correctly or if your gums are sore.

o  Call dentist for any problems with your teeth or gums.

If you have questions or concerns about managing your diabetes, talk to your healthcare team for help.

Smoking harms nearly every major organ in the body. Some of the chemicals from tobacco smoke include carbon monoxide, tar, arsenic and lead. All of these are poisonous. Tobacco also contains nicotine. Nicotine causes the addiction to tobacco products. Tobacco smoke contains at least 60 known cancer-causing substances.

Cigarette tobacco use is responsible for –

o  Almost 30 percent of all cancer deaths in the USA.

o  More than 75 percent of all lung cancer deaths.

o  Most cancers of the larynx (voice box), mouth, esophagus and bladder.

Cigarette use of tobacco causes chronic emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It also causes heart illness, stroke and cataracts.

Your risk increases with the exposure of cigarette smoke over your lifetime.

Be sure to use of tobacco during pregnancy could cause  complications including stillbirths and low birth weight. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has also been linked to smoking during pregnancy.

When you stop smoking, there are major and immediate health benefits.

Health benefits include decreasing the risk of lung and other cancers, heart attack, stroke and chronic lung illness.  The sooner you quit, the greater the health benefit.

Be certain to use of tobacco = single most preventable cause of death in the USA.  Consult with your healthcare team about getting help to stop tobacco use.

What’s arthritis?

Arthritis is an inflammation of your joints. Joints are where two bones come together, like in your knees or your fingers.  The word “arthritis” is used to describe more than 100 different kinds of problems that individuals  can have with their joints.  The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis.

What parts of the body are most commonly affected by arthritis?

Arthritis mostly affects the knees, hips, hands, and spine.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

The symptoms vary. Most individuals  with arthritis have pain, aching, stiffness, and swelling in and around their joints. Sometimes their joints look red and feel warm.

How long do the signs last?

Joints could  be stiff for about an hour, generally early in the morning. Some people  have pain or tenderness in their joints all the time.

Is there a cure for arthritis?

There is no cure for arthritis. Arthritis is treated by relieving pain so that individuals  can enjoy life more.

Should I exercise when I have arthritis?

Moderate exercise helps to reduce the pain and stiffness. Walking, swimming, riding a bike, gardening, or dancing are all easy on your joints. Being physically active can also give you more energy. You may even feel better.

Can arthritis be prevented?

Maintaining a healthful weight lowers the risk of developing arthritis in your knees. Protecting your joints from injury can also decrease your risk.

Hepatitis A virus could cause  serious liver illness. Hepatitis A is found all over the world. It is common in countries with poor sanitary conditions. Hepatitis A is contagious.

You can get Hepatitis A by close contact with someone who’s it. You can get it by eating food prepared by someone with Hepatitis A. You can also get Hepatitis A by drinking dirty water that contains the virus.

Everyone, specifically individuals  with Hepatitis A should clean their hands often with soap and water. Be certain to always clean after using the restroom or changing a diaper. Clean your hands before eating or preparing food.

You can also get Hepatitis A by drinking water that contains the virus.

There’s a safe vaccine to help prevent Hepatitis A. You will not get Hepatitis A from the vaccine.

Talk with your primary care provider about getting the Hepatitis A vaccine if –  

•  You’re planning to travel to a country where many individuals  have Hepatitis A

•  You have been told that you’ve chronic liver disease, including infection with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C

•  You use illegal drugs

•  You’re a man who has sex with men

•  You have a blood clotting-factor disorder

You will need to get a total of two shots. You should get the second shot 6 months to 12 months after the first one. After each shot, you might have some soreness where the needle went in. You might also feel tired or have a headache.

What is pre-diabetes?

In pre-diabetes, blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not as high as with diabetes.

Pre-Diabetes is becoming more common in the U.S.. As many as 50 million people  have pre-diabetes.

What if you have pre-diabetes?

Pre-diabetes increases your risk for developing kind 2 diabetes. Many people  with pre-diabetes develop kind 2 diabetes within 10 years.

People  with pre-diabetes are also at risk for developing heart disease, or having a stroke.

Diabetes can damage almost every part of your body. It may make you blind, damage to your heart and blood vessels, or cause kidney problems, stroke, or nerve damage. For women, diabetes can complicate pregnancy.

If you’ve pre-diabetes, you can lower your risk of developing diabetes by –  

•  Losing some weight. When you’re overweight, attempt to lose ~5% of your body weight by making small changes in your diet and getting regular exercise. This can help to delay, or even stop you from having Type 2 diabetes.

Need some helpful tips on losing weight?

•  Speak with your health care team for help in losing weight.

Second-hand smoke is the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker and the smoke released from a pipe, or the burning end of a cigar or cigarette.

Second-hand smoke is a cancer causing-agent for men, women and children.

o  Second-hand smoke contains at least 60 cancer causing-substances.

o  Breathing second-hand smoke is a risk factor for the development of lung cancer.

o  Second-hand smoke is responsible for almost 3,000 deaths each year.

o  It is a known risk factor for cancer in the nasal sinus, lung infections and heart disease.

o  Second-hand smoke is linked with cervical cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer.

Second-hand smoke contains poisonous substances, including carbon monoxide, tar, arsenic and lead.

Chronic coughs, wheezing, chest discomfort, poorer lung function, irritation of your eye and nose, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and low birth weights are all linked to second-hand smoke.

No amount of second-hand smoke is safe.

Talk with your loved ones who smoke and encourage them to quit – for your health and theirs.

Consider wearing a mouth guard.

A mouth guard can help to protect your teeth from injury during sports.

What is a mouth guard?

A mouth guard is designed to help cushion the mouth and your teeth.  The guard normally covers the up per teeth and minimizes risk of broken teeth and injuries that can occur from broken or chipped teeth. Mouth guards range from being ready made to custom fitted.

Who should wear a mouth guard?

Kids and adults ought to use a mouth guard.

When you participate in an activity that could cause  injury to your mouth or play contact sports – football, ice hockey, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer or volleyball – you ought to consider wearing one.

A mouth guard can decrease the risk of mouth-related injuries to your lips, tongue and soft tissues of mouth. They also can help to avoid chipped or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth and even tooth loss that can result from a blow to the mouth.

Your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. Taking care and protecting your teeth can help them to stay healthy.